Dolphin Ratings - National Basketball Association

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
THUNDER       35  7 5086 4524  0.016 19.685    1  0.710    1  0.723    1  0.762    1 0.5769   26  3.938    2  0.539    1  0.986
PISTONS       29 10 4586 4332 -0.057 17.916    2  0.456    2  0.446    3  0.334    2 0.5524   23  3.950   10  0.173    4  0.494
SPURS         28 14 4936 4736  0.077 21.253    3  0.410    3  0.398    4  0.325    3 0.5456   15  3.970    7  0.264    6  0.386
NUGGETS       28 13 5026 4807 -0.004 19.677    4  0.365    4  0.352    7  0.226    4 0.5399    2  4.042    1  0.543   18 -0.090
TIMBERWOLVES  27 14 4934 4697 -0.037 19.034    5  0.298    5  0.284    5  0.324    5 0.5337   12  3.993    3  0.383   10  0.266
KNICKS        26 16 4997 4833  0.000 20.465    6  0.251    6  0.237   10  0.166    8 0.5265    9  4.009    6  0.309   14  0.024
CELTICS       25 15 4667 4409 -0.009 19.080    7  0.248    7  0.227    2  0.353    6 0.5286   24  3.950    8  0.191    3  0.516
ROCKETS       23 15 4455 4211  0.033 18.524    8  0.234   10  0.210    6  0.297    7 0.5275   27  3.932   15  0.043    2  0.550
SUNS          24 17 4698 4594  0.052 20.687    9  0.218    9  0.211    8  0.213   10 0.5249   25  3.939   17 -0.005    5  0.431
LAKERS        24 15 4543 4560 -0.034 18.888   10  0.202    8  0.212   21 -0.109    9 0.5263   11  4.005   16  0.012   23 -0.229
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       25 17 4783 4707 -0.037 20.050   11  0.154   11  0.160   15  0.053   12 0.5144   28  3.928   23 -0.219    8  0.325
MAGIC         23 18 4767 4711  0.016 20.414   12  0.126   12  0.131   16  0.036   11 0.5146   18  3.967   20 -0.041   12  0.113
76ERS         22 17 4557 4509 -0.020 18.900   13  0.109   13  0.113   13  0.060   13 0.5130   16  3.968   18 -0.008   11  0.129
WARRIORS      23 19 4862 4755  0.023 20.817   14  0.104   14  0.107    9  0.187   14 0.5128   19  3.958   12  0.064    9  0.309
CAVALIERS     23 19 5043 4932 -0.016 20.284   15  0.075   15  0.078   11  0.129   15 0.5075    5  4.029    4  0.380   20 -0.122
HEAT          21 20 4896 4831  0.068 21.204   16  0.064   16  0.068   12  0.085   16 0.5072    3  4.036    5  0.369   21 -0.199
TRAIL BLAZERS 20 22 4866 4974  0.087 22.443   17  0.022   17  0.030   20 -0.079   17 0.5040   10  4.007   14  0.054   22 -0.212
HAWKS         20 23 5070 5111  0.044 22.095   18 -0.041   18 -0.036   18 -0.021   18 0.4994    7  4.022    9  0.188   24 -0.231
BULLS         19 21 4699 4837 -0.075 19.129   19 -0.111   19 -0.098   24 -0.267   19 0.4870    6  4.027   19 -0.030   27 -0.503
CLIPPERS      17 23 4490 4531  0.058 20.773   20 -0.123   20 -0.109   14  0.058   20 0.4865   29  3.928   22 -0.216    7  0.333
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
GRIZZLIES     17 23 4593 4649 -0.006 19.911   21 -0.172   21 -0.163   19 -0.063   21 0.4840   14  3.978   21 -0.080   16 -0.046
BUCKS         17 24 4609 4746 -0.049 19.943   22 -0.222   22 -0.211   23 -0.245   22 0.4766   22  3.953   27 -0.393   19 -0.097
JAZZ          14 27 4893 5223  0.028 21.645   23 -0.286   23 -0.277   28 -0.435   23 0.4683    1  4.090   11  0.143   30 -1.013
MAVERICKS     16 26 4772 4913 -0.081 20.017   24 -0.295   24 -0.299   22 -0.229   24 0.4663   21  3.954   26 -0.370   17 -0.089
HORNETS       15 26 4780 4783 -0.048 19.578   25 -0.302   25 -0.306   17  0.035   25 0.4647   13  3.986   13  0.060   15  0.009
KINGS         11 30 4518 4949  0.072 22.511   26 -0.394   26 -0.401   29 -0.530   26 0.4575   17  3.967   29 -0.606   26 -0.453
NETS          11 27 4136 4328 -0.040 18.681   27 -0.430   27 -0.441   25 -0.279   27 0.4446   30  3.912   30 -0.631   13  0.074
WIZARDS       10 29 4390 4831 -0.039 19.802   28 -0.516   28 -0.518   30 -0.617   28 0.4391    4  4.030   25 -0.365   29 -0.868
PELICANS      10 33 4942 5254 -0.009 21.872   29 -0.561   29 -0.576   26 -0.402   29 0.4375    8  4.014   24 -0.233   28 -0.572
PACERS         9 32 4534 4851 -0.029 20.770   30 -0.592   30 -0.608   27 -0.415   30 0.4311   20  3.955   28 -0.550   25 -0.281

PACIFIC DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SUNS          24 17 4698 4594  0.052 20.687    9  0.218    9  0.211    8  0.213   10 0.5249   25  3.939   17 -0.005    5  0.431
LAKERS        24 15 4543 4560 -0.034 18.888   10  0.202    8  0.212   21 -0.109    9 0.5263   11  4.005   16  0.012   23 -0.229
WARRIORS      23 19 4862 4755  0.023 20.817   14  0.104   14  0.107    9  0.187   14 0.5128   19  3.958   12  0.064    9  0.309
CLIPPERS      17 23 4490 4531  0.058 20.773   20 -0.123   20 -0.109   14  0.058   20 0.4865   29  3.928   22 -0.216    7  0.333
KINGS         11 30 4518 4949  0.072 22.511   26 -0.394   26 -0.401   29 -0.530   26 0.4575   17  3.967   29 -0.606   26 -0.453

NORTHWEST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
THUNDER       35  7 5086 4524  0.016 19.685    1  0.710    1  0.723    1  0.762    1 0.5769   26  3.938    2  0.539    1  0.986
NUGGETS       28 13 5026 4807 -0.004 19.677    4  0.365    4  0.352    7  0.226    4 0.5399    2  4.042    1  0.543   18 -0.090
TIMBERWOLVES  27 14 4934 4697 -0.037 19.034    5  0.298    5  0.284    5  0.324    5 0.5337   12  3.993    3  0.383   10  0.266
TRAIL BLAZERS 20 22 4866 4974  0.087 22.443   17  0.022   17  0.030   20 -0.079   17 0.5040   10  4.007   14  0.054   22 -0.212
JAZZ          14 27 4893 5223  0.028 21.645   23 -0.286   23 -0.277   28 -0.435   23 0.4683    1  4.090   11  0.143   30 -1.013

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         28 14 4936 4736  0.077 21.253    3  0.410    3  0.398    4  0.325    3 0.5456   15  3.970    7  0.264    6  0.386
ROCKETS       23 15 4455 4211  0.033 18.524    8  0.234   10  0.210    6  0.297    7 0.5275   27  3.932   15  0.043    2  0.550
GRIZZLIES     17 23 4593 4649 -0.006 19.911   21 -0.172   21 -0.163   19 -0.063   21 0.4840   14  3.978   21 -0.080   16 -0.046
MAVERICKS     16 26 4772 4913 -0.081 20.017   24 -0.295   24 -0.299   22 -0.229   24 0.4663   21  3.954   26 -0.370   17 -0.089
PELICANS      10 33 4942 5254 -0.009 21.872   29 -0.561   29 -0.576   26 -0.402   29 0.4375    8  4.014   24 -0.233   28 -0.572

CENTRAL DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PISTONS       29 10 4586 4332 -0.057 17.916    2  0.456    2  0.446    3  0.334    2 0.5524   23  3.950   10  0.173    4  0.494
CAVALIERS     23 19 5043 4932 -0.016 20.284   15  0.075   15  0.078   11  0.129   15 0.5075    5  4.029    4  0.380   20 -0.122
BULLS         19 21 4699 4837 -0.075 19.129   19 -0.111   19 -0.098   24 -0.267   19 0.4870    6  4.027   19 -0.030   27 -0.503
BUCKS         17 24 4609 4746 -0.049 19.943   22 -0.222   22 -0.211   23 -0.245   22 0.4766   22  3.953   27 -0.393   19 -0.097
PACERS         9 32 4534 4851 -0.029 20.770   30 -0.592   30 -0.608   27 -0.415   30 0.4311   20  3.955   28 -0.550   25 -0.281

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC         23 18 4767 4711  0.016 20.414   12  0.126   12  0.131   16  0.036   11 0.5146   18  3.967   20 -0.041   12  0.113
HEAT          21 20 4896 4831  0.068 21.204   16  0.064   16  0.068   12  0.085   16 0.5072    3  4.036    5  0.369   21 -0.199
HAWKS         20 23 5070 5111  0.044 22.095   18 -0.041   18 -0.036   18 -0.021   18 0.4994    7  4.022    9  0.188   24 -0.231
HORNETS       15 26 4780 4783 -0.048 19.578   25 -0.302   25 -0.306   17  0.035   25 0.4647   13  3.986   13  0.060   15  0.009
WIZARDS       10 29 4390 4831 -0.039 19.802   28 -0.516   28 -0.518   30 -0.617   28 0.4391    4  4.030   25 -0.365   29 -0.868

ATLANTIC DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KNICKS        26 16 4997 4833  0.000 20.465    6  0.251    6  0.237   10  0.166    8 0.5265    9  4.009    6  0.309   14  0.024
CELTICS       25 15 4667 4409 -0.009 19.080    7  0.248    7  0.227    2  0.353    6 0.5286   24  3.950    8  0.191    3  0.516
RAPTORS       25 17 4783 4707 -0.037 20.050   11  0.154   11  0.160   15  0.053   12 0.5144   28  3.928   23 -0.219    8  0.325
76ERS         22 17 4557 4509 -0.020 18.900   13  0.109   13  0.113   13  0.060   13 0.5130   16  3.968   18 -0.008   11  0.129
NETS          11 27 4136 4328 -0.040 18.681   27 -0.430   27 -0.441   25 -0.279   27 0.4446   30  3.912   30 -0.631   13  0.074

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 124  83 0.599    1  0.216
ATLANTIC DIVISION  109  92 0.542    2  0.096
SOUTHWEST DIVISION  94 111 0.459    3 -0.012
PACIFIC DIVISION    99 104 0.488    4 -0.056
SOUTHEAST DIVISION  89 116 0.434    5 -0.115
CENTRAL DIVISION    97 106 0.478    6 -0.126

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.168 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.019 points in improved RPI (0.019 for semineutral)
Average of 2.15 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Jan 16 05:30:10 2026
games through: Thu Jan 15 2026

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